Chief executives at large US companies more optimistic about hiring, sales

CP

WASHINGTON - Chief executives for the largest U.S. companies are more optimistic about sales over the next six months and plan to add more workers.

The Business Roundtable says its April-June quarterly survey found 32 per cent of its members expect to expand payrolls in the next six months. That's up from 29 per cent in the January-March survey. And 78 per cent expect their sales to increase. That's up from 72 per cent from the previous survey.

Consumers have kept spending this year, despite an increase in Social Security taxes. That's helped the economy grow at a modest pace.

Still, most of the CEOs don't expect growth to accelerate. They forecast growth of 2.2 per cent this year, about the same as first quarter survey.